Chapter 23: Candy Stall Talk
Hannah
I took a step back, not wanting him to notice me just yet. The rain fell, splashing on the ground. One of my feet stepped in a puddle, soaking my shoe, with me eyeing him. I didn't want to make any other noise besides the rain that he's hearing. Not only that, he didn't pay any attention. His head was down, his wooden body was shaking, and I found out where the source of the sniffling was coming from.
The source was from... Slappy. I just can't believe my mind. Slappy? Sniffling? Do evil dummies have emotions, too?
No, Hannah, I answered myself, he doesn't have emotions in him. All he has is evil. He never feels bad for what he did to dad nor Hazel. He'll never get reformed, he'll never apologize to my best friend who is now living with me after what he did to her.
I watched him, keeping my eye on him. He was sniffling so much that he doesn't even notice that I'm behind him.
I raised my phone, ready to call dad, when I heard a snap sound coming from beneath me. Looking down, I saw that I had stepped on a twig.
Slappy stopped mid-sniffling, turning his head to the side a little. "I told you not to find me, Stine, I left you a note in that guest room." He turned his head towards his back. His brows raised and lowered. "Oh..." he realized. "It's only you... the one I try to murder so you won't see that Zach kid again," he bruted out.
"You thought I was dad," I ignored his harsh words, coming into the stall. It was quite small to be frank. Slappy turned his head away from me. The small roof wasn't in good shape. The droplets of rain fell through, making small puddles all over the floor that has a couple of rusty nails poking out of it due to how old this thing is. "Slappy..." I spoke.
"What?" he refuted, seeing that he doesn't want to be bothered. "Are you going to say that I'm a mistake? Just like Stine mentioned when I got free from my book back in Chicago and some girl helped him so he can lock me back in my manuscript where I can just...rot through hell."
"No... no, no, no, no, no, I'm...just surprise that..." I couldn't come up with anything else to say, so I asked him a question instead. "Have you've been crying...?"
He whipped his head, glaring at me to death, like he was trying to scare me away, letting out a low growl that came from his wooden chest. "You didn't hear me cry..." he rasped. "I wasn't crying at all. You were just hearing things."
I tilted my head to the side. "Yes, you were, I heard you sniffling and saw green stuff that led me here," I told him, not buying his reply.
Slappy's sharp look went to sorrow before going back to angry ones. "Why are you anyway...?" His brows went up but that never took away those stinging eyes, looking at me in a suspicious way.
"I...um... Dad dropped me off here," I stammered. I looked at him, not being able to take my eyes off of him. "What happened to your..." I pointed, doing my best not to show any sympathy. "...face?"
Slappy's mouth parted open with no words coming out of it, and at first I thought he didn't want to answer me until he started yelling.
"Are you that stupid!?" he raged, getting up, standing on his thin legs that are made with cloth, stomping over towards me. "Are you that frickin stupid!?" he continued to throw out. "My stupid for nothing 'friends' attacked me after you-" His wooden finger pointed up at me. "-escaped from me when I tried to kill you! Now look at me. I'm a mess all thanks to you, Stine, Zach, and all the other people that became your friend... Stine should've let me free forever...only he didn't! He just put me back inside a book. A book!"
I waited for him to keep on letting his anger out. I wanted to tell him that he shouldn't have done that to me in the book, except another question came into my brain. "I'm not sure dad told me this but... what happened between you and him?" I hesitated to say from the sharp stare that kept me from looking away from him.
Slappy let out a disgusted sigh, sitting back down on the wooden floor board of the candy stall, not answering right away, listening to the loud rain. A rumble from the sky made the stall shook, like it wanted to destroy it.
The seconds turned to minutes as he didn't say anything back, turning away from me, forcing himself not to look at me.
A raindrop fell on my shoulder from the raggedy roof. Pretty soon this thing is gonna be blown by the wind unless it gets stronger.
"What happened between you and him?" I repeated.
"Why would you want to know?" he responded back. "I don't want to tell you what happened between me and Stine." He faced me again, keeping those eerie eyes. We stared at each other, and it seemed like he was hoping that his bone chilling stare would make me leave him alone.
I didn't move, just stood there. I mean, I could just run out and call dad, telling him to come and pick me up. Except I wanted Slappy to tell me what happened between him and my father.
"Just tell me, okay? You don't have to tell everything that happened to you. Why can't you stop being so selfish for once and tell me?"
That caused him to get a bit violent. "It's none of your business, Hannah! Just go home and leave me here! I'm just a mistake! Stine even admitted back in Chicago at the Town Centre Galleria in the library, saying that letting me out into the world was just a mistake! It's not even fair that you get to be free from your book forever! You're a stupid girl that Stine loves more, knowing that you're not a mistake at all! He shouldn't have created you! I was his best friend! I was his son! I-" He cut himself off, closing his fingers, creating a fist. "I'm just a... mistake..."
Before he had anything else to say, I responded back. "Just me tell what happened between you and dad," I insisted.
He scoffed in a seductive tone. "You want to know, huh?" I nodded, taking a seat on the floor. "Fine, I'll tell you," he contoured, like he wanted me to stop asking. "But just to let you know, this event that happened to me is none of your business, got it?" The only return I can give him is a nod. "Okay, good." He then began to tell the event that happened to him. "It...actually started back in Columbus, Ohio...before he created you...back in nineteen ninety three. He was pretty young, too. In my calculations, he was proberally in his late teens or in his early adulthood. He was in the study while I with him just...having a...good conversation.
'Are you going to create more monster friends?' I asked papa, sitting down on his large desk, my eyes on the special typewriter that held a piece of paper, ready to be typed. 'You always make the best ones,' I commented.
Papa chuckled. 'Yeah, I am. And thanks for the compliment,' he returned with a genuine smile. 'Only...' He scratched his head. 'I don't know if I should call my next story to terrorize the locals... Hmm...' He tapped his chin. 'What should I call my next story...?' he wondered out loud. It was basically a normal thing for him; talking out whether I'm in a room with him or not. 'I wanted to write a...halloween story...'
'How about The Haunted Mask?' I suggested with a shrug of my shoulders, my wooden fingers clicking on the polished wood of his desk. 'I don't think you written that story...have you?' My brow raised with impertaction.
He got up. 'Let me check just to be safe. I written so many of these books that I need to be careful not to write the same story unless it's an exception.' He went over to the tall bookcase that contained all of his Goosebumps books. He checked each shelf. He went over it again and again. He sighed, putting his hand down at his side, sharing a glance at me. 'Sorry, Slappy... I already wrote that one…' he apologized, his words blended together, sounding like he mumbled it. 'Even the Haunted Mask II is on the shelf.'
Despite me being a wooden, evil puppet, I felt...embarrassed. 'Oh...uh...' I played with my bow tie. 'That's okay...how about you write...' I tried to come up with a title, but my mind was...blank.
'Don't worry about it,' he assured me, placing his hand on my shoulder. 'Story titles never come up right away.'
He took his hand off of me, with me thinking about what he told me. 'Okay,' I said. 'You're absolutely right, papa. Though I wish you can make another friend for me.' I grinned, although I'm always like this since wooden puppets are always stuck with a grin on their faces. 'And once you come up with a good title, I'll help you with all the twist and turns and frights,' I promised.
Nodding his head, he combed his fingers through his hair. I see him do that all the time, wishing I can do that since my hair is actually painted on my head.
Me and papa look alike, too. We both got dark, brown hair and brown eyes. The only difference is that my chest is painted white, making it look like a shirt while I'm wearing a gray tux over it and a red bow tie, along with a red, ruffle flower, and he wears black formal shoes while I wear brown ones. His clothes are formal as well, in the color of black. Another thing that is different about him compared to me is that he wears black framed glasses that he consistently cleans with his shirt, making sure there are no tiny specks on them. Like most humans are when they have those things on their faces.
It's very fun to hang out with my papa... we're like...best friends. I always tell myself that he would never lock me up because he promised me that... Like I keep my promise to keep him safe from those...
Clink!
'Huh?' Papa turned to the direction of where the sound came from.
Clink, clink, clink! Clink!
'Hey, Robert, why don't you come outside?' a voice started to agonized, followed by a snicker. 'Or are ya too lazy to do that? Come on outside, you wimp!' the voice irrigated in a snarky manner.
'Didn't you forget? This lame dude has allergies, he can never go outside,' a second voice piped in. 'He's forced to stay indoors so he wouldn't...suffer...' The second voice let out a cruel laugh.
Clink, clink, clink, clink!
The window continued getting hit by rocks of all shapes and sizes. I watched papa go over to the window, sliding it all the way open. A rock flew into the room, almost hitting me after I teleported off his desk, hearing is smack the wall near the door.
He peered down. 'Get off my property...' he tried to shoo. The result he got back was full blown laughter. He gripped the windowsill, his knuckles turning...white. 'Get off my property!' he boldly voiced.
'Let us think about it,' I heard a third person call back up. 'Should we leave this loser alone?' the third person directed to his friends. 'No? Yeah, I don't think so, either.' The person then talked back at papa. 'We decided not to. Here, have some rocks since you never go outside.' More rocks were being thrown in, making him move away from the window.
'Stop!' he hollered down to them. 'Stop, you'll-you'll break something in here!'
The answer he got back was more laughing. I saw his face turn an angry red, his eyes tightly shut. He was trying to control his temper, getting more upset by the second. 'Go away!' he yelled out.
'No!' the first person refused. 'We'll only leave once we're done. Hahaha!'
His face a bright, angry red, he stormed out of the room. 'Papa- No wait,' I called out, running down the stairs, wanting to stop him.
'If those bullies don't leave, then I'll just have to make them leave.' He went to the back door, shutting is closed with me just standing there. I couldn't hear him that well for being on the other side of it. It started off by yelling, then turned into screaming.
Wanting to know what is happening out there, I found a window, teleporting on the windowsill, balancing on it, making sure not to fall and break myself.
My eyes widened when I saw his bullies pushing him around, causing him to fall on the grassy ground. His glasses were ripped off of him, being held by a guy with long hair tied in a ponytail.
Papa went to get up when he got kicked in the stomach. 'Oh...' he moaned. 'Hey-!' To my horror, I saw all three of those brats kicking him. 'Ow! Stop it!' he begged out. One of them grabbed a handful of dirt, throwing it on his face. He sputtered, spitting the dirt off his lips. 'Quit it! Ow!' he screamed in pain. 'Give my glasses back, I can't see anything!'
The guy who has his glasses held them up. 'Aww, you can't see anything?' he teased, waving papa's glasses in front of him. 'How about you try and find them?' Bringing his arm back, he threw the glasses across the lawn. 'Careful not sneeze, Robert...' he sneered a menacing smile.
No! It's a trick! I wanted to shout out to my papa, telling him to get up and come into the house, and that I'll find his glasses.
He slowly got up and the result he got was a kick in the ribs. 'Ow! Leave me alone!' he desperately pleaded.
'Aw, look at him guys,' the pony tail guy pointed, smirking an unkindly smile. 'This loser wants us to leave him alone. No wonder he doesn't have any friends.'
'Yeah, who wants to be friends with a guy with terrible allergies and stays inside all day long?' the third guy agreed.
'That's right.' Papa let out a yelp when the second guy gave him a blow in the chest with his leather boots. 'You're lame,' he commented snidely.
I continued to watch while his bullies, his enemies, beat him. He was begging and also...crying. Each time he went to get up to go get his glasses, they'll just throw him back on the ground.
I have to help him! I've scared a lot of his bullies, and these jerks needed a good scare. I quickly ran into the kitchen, pulling something out from one of the drawers. I ran to the back door, leaving the drawer opened.
I bust the door open, almost breaking the hinges off the doorframe. The three men stopped what they were doing.
They stared at me in shock. One of them chuckled, looking down at papa with a bad look. 'Who's that? Your son? Boy, I didn't know you're a dad.' He looked back at me. 'Hey, there little fella,' he waved, kneeling down at my height.
Instead of answering, I walked over to them. They almost cried out in fear to see what I truly was. The other guy sputtered and pointed.
'Th-That's a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-'
'Ventriloquist dummy!' his friend declared in fright. I gave them narrow eyes, lowering my brows.
'Who you calling dummy...? Dummy!' I proclaimed, clenching the object; a sharp knife in my hand. 'You better back off from my papa or else.'
'Really?' the first one ignored. 'You protecting your own daddy?' He took a step forward, like he was trying to imitate me since I'm short for being three feet tall. 'Wow that's a turn around,' he complimented. 'It's always the parents that keep their kids safe. Where's your mama at? Hm?'
I glared at him. 'I don't have a mama...' I crackled. Then, without any hesitation, I raised the weapon in my hand.
The human let out a painful scream and I began attacking him before going to the others.
'Ow!'
'Hey, get this dummy off me!'
'Help!'
The three men let out cries of mercy, having me stab one of them in the arm for calling me the D word. One of them threw me off, causing me to land on the ground harshly, making me let out a heavy grunt of pain. Scrambling back onto my shoes, I saw them running away like...cowards, yelling at them. I yelled threats, I yelled cursed words.
'...and if you people ever come back, you'll be god damn dead!' I threatened, waving the knife. I waited for them to be out of site, watching them scream away from our home. I lowered the knife to my side, walking over to papa. 'You okay?'
'Why did you do that!?' I jumped back when he yelled at me, his eyes squinting due to the fact that he hadn't found his glasses. 'Why did you attack them?! You almost murdered them to death!'
My lower jaw hung in a slacking way, unsettled by what I was hearing. 'I was protecting you!' I let out an argued tone that came out of my mouth when I was finally able to talk. 'Don't yell at me! What do you want me to do!? Just stand in the house and watch you get tortured by those jackasses?' A drop of blood that is the color of crimson fell on the ground. Papa let out a gasp when seeing this, his face turning a bit...white... 'Papa...?' My anger went right back with concern. He didn't answer, looking for his glasses, crawling around on the lawn. I faced to where the first guy threw them at, spotting them. I went over and picked them up, checking to see any cracks or anything.
His glasses past the test. I teleported in front of papa, holding them out to him. 'Here you go.'
Instead of taking them nicely like he always does, he snatched them out of my hand in an angry manner, placing them back on his face. After, he spoke to me.
'You were supposed to scare them, not send them to a hospital, Slappy. I can't believe you did that to them. Just because you saw them hurting me, doesn't mean that you have to do the same thing. I'm very disappointed in you.' With that, he stomped in the house, grunting in pain with each step he took.
All I could do was stand there, processing on what he just said to me. The words jumbled inside my head.
The knife dropped to the ground when I released it, forgetting that it was in my hand. Then I scooped it back up, clutching the handle, making my way towards the door.
I jumped for the doorknob and opened the door, walking inside. I went back to the kitchen, putting my little weapon in the dishwasher before looking for papa.
I found him in his study. He was crying, his hands buried in his hands, his elbows on his large desk.
I stepped into the room. '...Papa?'
'Get out!' he exploded, causing the house to shake from the loud and frightening tone of volume from his voice, sending me a teary glare. 'If you want to hurt people then go ahead! You were supposed to scare them away!' he repeated, pointing his finger at me. 'Now those jerks are gonna tell the whole world, and everybody is gonna know about...you.'
'It's my job!' Now I was getting mad, too. 'I taught those brats a lesson! And how do you know that they're gonna tell people about me, huh? People aren't going to believe them!' I yelled.
Papa got up from his desk, stomping over to me, towering like a tall building. For the first time in my life... I felt... imitated...
'Do you want me to put you back inside your book?' he threatened.
'No!' I cried out, raising my hands as if to defend myself. 'Please don't put me back on the shelf,' I pleaded. 'I won't do that to them again, I promise!'
A long silence came between us. Papa let out an angry sigh, stomping out of the room with no spare word. It's like he didn't want to hear it...
As more days went on... I didn't keep my promise... Every time I saw anyone making fun of my own papa, I will just hurt them...badly. Throwing harmful objects and things like that...
He didn't like that, beginning to ignore me when I try to talk to him, turning his...back on me... We would pick up fights, yelling and screaming at each other... Papa would keep on threatening me to put me on a shelf... I knew they're just threats, so I never took it seriously.
The pranks that papa used to love... I went overboard with them...thinking that it'll help make him feel better...
It didn't...
Then...one day...it happened... He walked right behind me after I threw a large rock at one of bratty kids. I felt a strong current of wind. I turned around...and saw him opening up a book, my book.
'No!' I shouted, grabbing his mattress of his bed that I was sleeping on. 'What do you think your doing?! Stop! Shut the book, shut the book!' I yelled out.
'I don't want you to be free anymore, Slappy!' Papa declared in a bold like state. 'You went too far for everything that you did!' The wind grew stronger and stronger, the lights flickering in the bedroom. 'Since you failed to keep me safe, then it's better for you to be back in the book where you belong!' he proclaimed.
'No... Noooo!' My fingers started to slip. 'No!' I shrieked. 'I'll get you back, papa! That's a promise that I'll keep! And I'll release the monsters by the time I can figure out how to get out of my book!' I revenged by the time I lost my grip.
So I was...trapped in paper and leather. I don't think he even flinched when he locked the book!
Years went on with me stuck on the shelf, keeping that same promise on my papa... Only I don't know how I'll ever get out of my book. I tried to get out myself with no success whatsoever. But then I stopped when I heard him walk back into the study.
From inside the book, I heard a chuckle and cracking knuckles. 'Yes...' What his he doing? I pressed my ear against one my pages. 'Reader beware...you're in for a scare,' he exclaimed in full triumph. 'Hahaha!' I heard him let out a laugh.
That's when I heard him typing on the typewriter. Is he creating a new monster, without my help?!
The typing went on and on; it seemed to take hours. I didn't say anything just...listening from inside my manuscript.
Hearing another noise, it sounded like he took a paper off the typewriter. 'The Ghost Next Door...' From inside the book, I can hear papa's pen writing on something. The Ghost Next Door? Did he just wrote a new Goosebumps story? 'Let see how you turn out...Hannah.' My wooden brow went up. Hannah? Who's Hannah? 'You'll be much better than those...creeps,' I heard him speak into the new book, even though I couldn't see it but can still hear him.
Creeps? Did he just call me and my friends creeps!? Hearing the key unlock the book, I heard lightning and wind... What's happening? What's going on?! Who's Hannah?!
From inside the book, the wind went away along with the lights and heard papa talking to someone. 'Hey there. You know that you're Hannah… right?' There was a pause, and I heard papa's footsteps walking. 'Hannah? Hello.'
I kept on listening, waiting for his new creation to say something. '...Dad?' What?! Did his new creation just called him dad?! Oh, she better not replace me. Suddenly, I heard a cry. 'No! You're not putting me back in! Not with the Shadow Figure!'
'Shadow Figure?' Papa questioned, hearing his confused voice from the book that I am now stuck in. 'Ohh. The Shadow Figure,' he then realized. 'I won't put you back in, sweetheart.' Huh? Did he just say sweetheart?
I then heard this Hannah say, 'Promise?'
No, no. Don't say it, papa! Don't say that you promise. 'Yes.' No! 'Give me the book,' he requested. 'So...' From inside the book, I almost slipped when he slid the new book between mine and the other one. '...what do you want to do first?'
'Explore the house?' Why does that sound like a question? 'And maybe...go outside and meet some new friends...?' How come she doesn't sound evil? Is that why he doesn't want to put her back in the book?
'Sorry, Hannah, you may not go outside... But you can explore the house. You can even tell which room you want to be your new bedroom.' My eyebrows lowered when hearing this.
'Fine... I'll stay inside. Even though I knew who I am...' she replied. Is she a ghost? Is that why her book is called The Ghost Next Door? 'What are these? Books?' I then heard her ask. I also heard a book being taken off from one of the shelves. 'A Night In Terror Tower. Why are these books locked, dad?' Oh, you'll find out. Still hearing, I listened for her to open the book.
'No!' Papa yelled. He then spoke with an uneasy voice. 'All these manuscripts have to be kept locked. If you unlock them...the monsters would leap off the page and wreak havoc.' Uh...is that what you wanted us to do, papa? From inside, he put the book back as well as the key. 'Now go on and explore the house,' he shooed, leaving me, a wooden piece of junk, to rot in hell...
"I began to feel...betrayed. I started calling out to Stine. I know he can hear me, and he pretended not to. It's...it's like he's neglecting his own child. I didn't want his new creation to replace me, even though he told me that you didn't replace me, Hannah... But..." Slappy sniffed, green liquid emerging from his brown eyes, not wanting to start crying again like he did when I heard him sniffling from inside the stall. "He did it anyway. You're his new favorite, Hannah. That's what he thinks of you. You're never a mistake, that's why he never put you back in the book except when he had to write a new one to stop me and my so called monsters that were my friends, who beat me inside the new manuscript after I became a failure of trying to kill you at that bonfire so you would never see him and Zach again... Stine hates me, Hannah... he always has. He lied to me, saying that I was his best friend. He's a liar and I can never forgive him for what he did to me when he trapped me back inside my book," he wept, doing his best not to show any sad emotions in front of me. "And even though I got out of my book when one of the movers that he hired ended up dropping it, breaking my lock...even though it was already broken somehow... Some bratty girl in dark, black hair stopped me at the library at the Mall...just to distract me so he...he can suck me back into the book before I can get my wooden hands on her. It's all..." His voice cracked and broke when he tried to get the last words that are stuck in his wooden throat. "...it's all his fault. All Stine's fault... Now I can never go back..." Tears fell out of his eyes , staining his tux, glowing in that green glow. "He hates me, Hannah, he hates all of his children except for you..." He started to sniffle again, failing by trying to control it so I wouldn't hear it, but I did.
For the first time in my life after hearing his story, I began to feel...very bad for him. Yes, what he did was true, just like what I told the boys in the car of Slappy trying to murder me, that way I wouldn't see dad and Zach again.
"Dad doesn't hate you," I spoke, placing a hand on him. I looked at his scarred up face, noticing something right away. The paint seemed to be fading into the color of white. In other words, he looks like he isn't feeling well. "You look ill..." I commented.
"I feel fine," he answered, wiping his nose with his sleeve. "I'm not sick and I'm not weak." I frowned, knowing that he's lying to me. "And...I can't blame you for saying that I'll stab everyone in the back... Just let me stay here so I wouldn't ever see that man again."
"No, Slappy," I responded, holding my phone. "I'm not going to let you out here to get anymore worse than you are." I began to dial my dad's number. "I'm gonna call dad to come and get us," I said. Before I can even finish, my phone got taken away from me. "Hey!" I protested. "Slappy, give me my phone!" I reached for it and he held it out of my reach. "Slappy, stop it, you're sick! I need to call dad so he can take you back home," I tried to tell him.
"And tell him to put me back in the book?" he added, feeling paranoid. "Is that why you want to call him? To put me back in the book so my 'friends' can hurt me more?! Not a chance, girl." He gripped the phone tightly, and I was afraid that he was going to break it since it's a brand new phone after my last one broke over at Horrorland.
"Just give me the phone!" I was about to grab it, but he opened up his tux, dropping my phone inside of it somehow. I slammed my fists on the floor. "Fine! Have it your way!" He flinched when I blew out at him. "Dad just wanted you to get reformed, but since you don't want me to call him to come pick us up, that's fine by me! You can sick for all I care," I muttered. I got up, ready to leave.
"Don't go!" Suddenly, I felt his arms wrapped around one of my legs. "Please, don't go," he begged, his head down, shaking all over. This is weird... he's like Hazel with her bipolar illness. First he's irritated and angry, then the next thing I knew, he's clingy and childish. It seems like he also has some separation anxiety. You know, when children don't want their parents to leave, fearing that they won't come back. Hazel was kinda like that, only it was more like paranoia when dad explained to her that he's just taking Lorraine out to dinner and Zach had to restrain her, telling him to just go and locked the door so he can get the other door locked.
I felt bad for her. I don't know what's it like to be in her shoes. However, I don't want to find out.
"Slappy, what is up with you? I thought you're a terrifying monster," I convened, rolling my eyes.
He released me, his body shaking. Probably due to the cold. "Don't you get it, Hannah?" he croaked, tears coming to his eyes, letting them fall this time. "I can't go back there, just like I said. He hates me, I know he does. He hates all of his kids and never hated you since you're so..." He pointed at me. "...special because he wrote you in away where you won't have to scare his bullies away because you're just...stupid," he insulted, turning away from me, sitting down and faced the wall.
Instead of taking that in, I sat back down. "Dad doesn't hate you," I repeated, being very sincere, taking off my hoodie, placing it on him. He noticed a second later, not tossing it off of him like I expected him to do. "And if he did, he wouldn't think of letting you out of that new manuscript," I put in. "He doesn't despise you either, too."
"He kicked me like a football," he broke out. "He does think of me that way."
"Well, you did break his fingers, have him get consumed by the Blob, and bit Hazel and lied to her," I reminded.
"I don't care what I did!" he snapped. "I don't care what I did to them. I don't care what I did to Hazel when she tried to stop me," he snarled. "But I have no choice but to say sorry to her whenever she gets home from that insane asylum."
"It's a mental hospital." I rolled my eyes, ignoring his rude reply.
"Whatever," he talked back. "There is no way I'm going back...home. Besides why are you here anyway?" he asked, looking at me suspiciously.
"I just told you, dad dropped me off here," I replied since he already forgotten that I explained it to him. "Slappy...please, you need to get back to the house. Look at you," I pointed. "You're cold and you're not going that great," I reasoned.
I was expecting him to keep on refusing, but to my surprise, he took out my phone, holding it out to me. "Here," he stated. "Call him. But don't tell him that I cried," he requested, feeling embarrassed about it.
I smiled. "Thanks, and don't worry, it's okay to cry." Slappy just rolled his eyes, almost not believing me, but he knew that I was right. But if it makes him feel better, I won't tell dad nor my friends just to be safe so he wouldn't scream at me. I finished dialing dad's phone number then put it on my ear, listening it ring.
"Hannah?" he answered, picking up at the third ring.
"Dad, I found him," I announced. "He was in the candy stall," I told him. "Please come get us."
"Okay, stay there, we're coming," Dad instructed. He then hung up the phone.
I hung up, too. "Now we wait." I turned my head, seeing Slappy on the floor, sleeping. I guess it was from all that anger and crying, which does happen when you feel like that.
I gently picked him up like a small child, cradling him, making sure my hoodie doesn't fall off of him. When I looked at him, he seems very harmless... Don't know why that came to me. He seems a lot less evil when he's out. I sighed. "Dad better reform him..."
I walked out the candy stall, waiting for his arrival with a question in my head.
Is dad really going to reform him? Just as I was about to answer my own question, my ears caught the sound of footsteps. Perking my head to face in front of me, I saw dad with an umbrella in his hand, the light from his phone shining in my face, making my eyes squint.
When he got to where I was at, he lowered his phone towards the ground. 'What happened here?" he asked, noticing Slappy in my arms.
"I don't know," I shrugged. "When I came here, he was asleep."
Dad nodded, taking my words. "Let's go home." Turning around, he led me to the car. "He was asleep when you found him?" he repeated my answer, wanting to know if he heard right.
"That's right," I confirmed with a nod. "I was looking at every part of the amusement park until I saw the candy stall. I opened it up and, well, I found him; sleeping. While he was sleeping, I thought it'll be...kind enough to put my hoodie on him," I explained, lying to my own father.
Slappy told me not to tell him that he was crying, so I didn't.
I'll just tell the boys, even though this gremlin didn't mention them.
I don't think this demon is going to... change... But...we'll just have to wait and see...
The drive home was pretty quiet. Either we didn't want to wake Slappy or we didn't want to make any sudden noises. Every once in a while, he'll mutter something that I can't make out, twitching just a tad bit.
Dad kept looking at him a couple of times with an arched brow, wondering what I was telling him was true. So I decided to tell him, hoping that this thing is in a deep sleep.
"Slappy was crying when I actually found him," I confessed out of nowhere, breaking the silence. "He was in the stall sniffling. He denied it, but I didn't believe him. Actually, when I think about it, I told you I heard crying in the study room," I brought up from yesterday.
"He was...crying?" Champ said. I didn't have to turn from my seat. I knew he was shocked. "You mean this evil monster, one of Stine's most evilest creation, was crying?"
"That's what she just said, dude," my boyfriend answered, his voice sounding a bit annoyed. "However... how can this thing have...sad feelings. He is evil, and evil things shouldn't feel that way."
Dad stopped at a red light, the window wipers washing the rain water off as the storm got worse, the wind blowing the wires from the light poles, almost look liking they were going to be torn off. "Slappy does have other feelings," he spoke, his eyes on the light, waiting for it to turn green. "I just think he doesn't want to show it. He did cry after I released him after he vented at me, telling that he was my favorite. He even thought that I replaced him after I created Hannah. To Slappy...he thinks that I broke my promise and lied to him about not putting him back in his book. But I had to the one day, after what he did to those bullies and all the pranks that he did that went way too far. I had no choice but to do it. We even picked up arguments. He told me what he did was right, but I told him what he did was wrong." The light turned green and he started driving. "He told me that those bullies deserved it to what they did to me," he continued "We'll argue about it everyday, with our voices up in high volume. I had no choice, I had to put him back in his book. As I was getting him into the book, he declared to me that he'll released the monsters someday for revenge. I brushed it off at first, thinking he was just...saying that. But then...he did. I don't know how he got out his book when the movers packed up the stuff in the moving van, but he did. I guess it was because somehow the lock from the book got broken because there had been a time when the book fell off my shelf back in Chicago before he actually got out of it. I was lucky that a girl distracted him in the library at the Town Centre Galleria, that way I can stop him." A frown came across his face. "Then he released the monsters in this town," he finished. "I'm starting to wonder if he only did that to get my attention, just like young children would do to their parents. Only..." He let out a short chuckle. "...they don't release monsters into the world."
"So are you going to put him back in the manuscript?" Zach asked by the time we got to the house.
Dad took the car keys out of the ignition, not answering for just a second. "...No."
"What?!" both boys replied in reaction.
"What do you mean no?" Champ squealed in fear. "Are you..." He thought for a second. "Are you under some kind of mind spell?"
"No, Champ, I'm not," Dad answered, grabbing the car door handle, opening the car up. He got out of the car and we did as well.
"But-But, why don't you want to put him back in the book?" he stuttered as we all entered dad's house, walking into the living room.
Letting out an exasperated sigh, dad pulled his fingers through his hair, closing up the umbrella that he brought inside, water dripping on the floor. "Are you boys gonna freak out when I tell you the truth?"
"Truth?" Zach inquired with a raised brow. "What truth?"
"Stine's gonna write another new book to trap Slappy in." Champ gave my father a hopeful look. "Right?" he said. "Is that why you don't want to put him in the book, just to write a new one? Please tell me that's what you're going to do."
"No, Champ, I'm not going to write a new book. I..." He looked down at the floor, staring at his shoes. "I let him out," he mustered out.
There was a short pause. It was like as if someone went over to a TV, turning it off right away. I can tell that he was feeling guilty and I can't blame him for feeling that way. Even though it wasn't a good idea to let Slappy out of the new book.
"You let him out!?" Champ began to freak out. "So he did put a spell on you," he proclaimed in fright.
"Champion, he did not put a spell on me." Dad gave him an annoyed look. "God sake, kid, can you ever think of something, oh I don't know, positive?" he half shouted, as if he doesn't want to wake Slappy up or wants to control his anger. He then turned his glance at me, holding out his arms. "I'll take him," he offered, whispering softly.
Handing Slappy to him, dad went upstairs to put him in one of the guest rooms, believing that's where I think he's going.
"Oh my, God, oh my, God, oh my, God," Champ rattled in panic. "Stine's under some kind of mind control, Stine's under some mind control. That's why he was saying that he's not putting that evil dummy back in the book." He grabbed my boyfriend by the shirt. "We gotta do something, Zach! We have to-"
Zach shoved him off. "Dude, he just said he wasn't. Now don't grab me like that, you almost ripped my shirt. It's new," he told him. "However, I think I should stay here, that way that wooden demon doesn't gets his hands on Hannah." A scoff slipped out of his mouth. "That thing shouldn't be out of that new book in the first place. He hurt Hazel, Stine, and who's he going to hurt next? My girlfriend." He took my hand, having me walk over to the kitchen with him. "Hannah..." he breathed. "Let me stay for the night. Tomorrow is only Friday. I know your dad can handle him but..."
"Zach." I looked into his eyes. "I'll be fine. My dad can keep an eye on him. In case he doesn't something wrong, meaning that I'm talking about Slappy, I'll put him a trunk," I joked heartily.
"Alright," he chuckled lightly. "Just call me when you need me, okay?" He gave me a kiss. I watched both him and Champ leave the house before dad even came downstairs. Maybe to get out of the house, thinking that Slappy would start attacking them. Zach did stop at the door, giving a wave of goodnight.
"Bye," I waved in return, entering back to the living room by the time dad came down the steps.
"Zach and Champ left?" he inquired with a raised brow.
"Yep." I nodded. "Wanna watch a movie before we go to bed?" I asked, going over to the couch, sitting down on the cushion. "We hadn't done that in awhile."
Dad thought about it for a moment. "Sure, why not," he answered. "Then it's bedtime for you, young lady," he playfully stricted. I laughed when he did that. "Scary movie?" he guessed, knowing that's the kind of movies that we enjoy.
"Certainly," I returned with a smile. "How about a classic one; Frankenstein?" After saying that, I couldn't help but giggle. "Frankenstein. Now that I think about it, the last words sounded like your name, dad. Only spelled differently."
Dad laughed, too. "Very funny, Hannah, very funny." He got the movie set up, went over to the couch, and sat down next to me. "You used to be afraid of this movie," he recalled, picking up the DVD remote from the coffee table.
"Oh yeah," I remembered, knowing what he meant. "It was the only horror movie that I didn't want to watch until you got me into it, becoming one of my favorite horror movies."
"Yep." By the time we got to the main menu of the movie, he pressed play to start it at the beginning. As the movie began to play, he set the remote on his lap. "Are you mad at me for letting Slappy out?" He didn't look at me when he asked that.
"Yeah... I still am," I sighed. "You could've told me what you were doing," I frowned, disappointed that he hadn't done that. "You could've asked me if it's okay to free Slappy out of the new book."
"Then you'll end up saying no," he frowned back. He played around with a thread a little. "Do you miss Hazel?" he suddenly brought up.
My eyes looked down at the coffee table. "Yeah... I do..." I answered with a nod of my head. "When are you going to pick her up?"
"When they call me." Dad leaned back, resting his head on the couch, placing his hand on the arm of the furniture. "I don't when she'll get better," he told me. "But I hope it'll be soon and not for her to be there...for the rest of her life like she thinks it's going to be," he kinda muttered.
I didn't say anything else after he finished speaking. I don't want her to be in that place forever, either. It sends chills just thinking about it. People can be there for years and years. Boy, I hope it doesn't traumatized her.
Leaning again the couch as well, me and dad watched the movie until it was over.
I got up from the couch, heading to my room upstairs when I heard sniffling again. Looks like Slappy is awake.
Not wanting to go and check up on him, I went over to the staircase. "Dad," I called up. "Slappy is crying," I announced before I head off to bed.
"Alright, thanks," he answered back. "I'll deal with him, okay? You just go upstairs and go to bed," he told me. "Have sweet dreams," he then added, wishing me a goodnight.
"Night, and same goes for you, too," I returned.
Doing my best to ignore that gremlin's sniffling, I entered my room to myself ready for bed. I put on fresh pajamas. Next I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth right before I hit the hay. So once my teeth are all white, I placed my toothbrush down after I rinsed it out as well as the excess foam from my mouth that is in the color of blue-ish green, looking like one of the marbles that you play with.
Removing the hair tie that had been on my wrist, I wrapped the loop around my hair several times until it was tight enough.
Satisfied, I grinned happily, walking out of the bathroom, turning the light off along the way when I saw dad walking up the steps, sending me a goodnight wave with me returning it back to him, seeing him to go check on that wooden tuxedo demon, making me lose my smile.
Dad better get him to change... If not, he'll have no choice but to put him back in the book with the other monsters in there. I don't care what happened to him. All I know that he's evil, and even though I stated towards that he looks ill, that doesn't mean I care for him.
Although once Slappy does change someday, how'll Hazel react? She did got panicky when Maniac mentioned that dummy by name, having me feel concerned about her moment to the point that she had to get away from us to get air.
Now when I think about it, what will happen when she sees him again? Surely she'll have that same episode, seemingly that it's gonna take time for her to get used to him for being a creepy puppet made out of wood and cloth. Again, she'll just have another panic attack... I don't care if that wooden gremlin is reformed or not, what he did to her was wrong.
He better not be staying out of his book for a long time, I thought with no care. I don't want a monster to be my sibling. I rather have a human for a new sibling, like Hazel.
I'm not entirely sure if dad wants another daughter. He does treat her like one, though. Are all parents like that to all children when it's not even their own kids? I guess so. It'll be nice to have a sister, unless dad does adopt her, that is. I did ask him for her to stay with us and he agreed, knowing that she wouldn't have to live by herself anymore.
I'm surprised that she did survive all by herself from a very young age. It must've been hard for her. A lot of kids that young would...not make it on their own. They can't cook or anything. They just played while their parents are doing adult stuff in the house.
Come to think of it, I don't think Hazel has any kind of fun ever since she left her god parents, along with quitting school.
Speaking of school, dad is right. She doesn't talk to anyone else but me, my father, and the boys. But we can't force her to communicate with other people since she's kinda shy, only talking when she feels like it. Plus, she's very quiet, too.
Heading to my room, I went over to my bed, pulling the covers, getting onto the mattress when I heard something on the window, like a pebble.
Really? Just as I was about to go to sleep. Shoving the blankets off of me, I went over to the window to tell who ever it is to go home, knowing how late it is.
Grabbing the curtains, I pull them apart to see a familiar face in front of me. "Oh!" I let out a startled yelp when it was only Zach. I grabbed the bottom part of my bedroom window, lifting it up all the way. "Zach, what are you doing here?" I asked. "Shouldn't you be in bed by now?"
"Sorry," he answered. "I just wanted to make sure you're okay since, you know..."
"Zach, I'm fine," I assured him, leaning out the window, facing down at my boyfriend. "Dad can handle Slappy."
Zach breathed out of his nose. "Mind if I can come into your room?" he grinned.
I tossed my ponytail onto my left shoulder, shaking my head. "Dad isn't going to allow you to be in my room," I told him sincerely. "I don't want him to have that red thing when he gets angry. Adding to that, he'll ended up grounding me like last time when I confessed to him that I sneak out at night when we're at the mall for us to head to the high school," I explained.
"Oh." He swept his hand over his head, smiling a sheepish smile. "But in case you need me, call me, and I'll be here," he said with promising words. He went to leave when he stopped to look up at my bedroom window. "You know, when I first met you..." It looks like he felt embarrassed for what he had to say.
"Yeah?" I responded, waiting for him to finish with a curious look on my face.
Zach chuckled, trying to hide his bashfulness. "When I first met you, and how you dealt with the monsters, being brave that you are, it makes you look..." Another chuckle. "Hot," he spilled out.
My face began to get warm as a scarlet color formed on my skin with a frown on my face in surprise. That frown turned upside down when I released a giggle. "Really?" I perked up, feeling very complimented. "You think of me that way?"
"Heh...yeah..." he replied, the embarrassed feeling not going away. "You're pretty and hot," he commented, his face turning the same color as mine.
"I see," I answered with a small nod. "When I saw you the first time, I thought you're cute," I returned with a great manner of affection from up in my bedroom window. I burst out laughing, not being able to help hold it in, when his scarlet face brightened up. I then stopped when I heard a throat being cleared, turning to see dad standing at my doorway, arms crossed over his chest. "Zach's outside, wanting to know if I'm okay," I explained to him.
I was expecting him to yell or shout at me for talking to my boyfriend during this time of night. But to my surprise, he just let out a chuckle, going over to the window. I stepped back, making sure not to get in his way.
He peered down, a friendly smirk on his face. "Checking to see Hannah's okay for what she had explained to me?" he assumed.
"Yep," Zach returned. "Since that dummy is in there, I just wanted to make sure he didn't had his wooden hands on him. You should just turn him into wood shavings."
Dad shook his head at what Zach had suggested. "No can do, Zach. Like I said, I can deal with Slappy. Now go on." He made a shooing motion with hand. "Go put your p.j's on, grab your blankie, and go nap-nap." Now the last time he said that, he was ticked off when the Abominable Snowman got out of his book when Zach tried to put it away. This time, dad said it with such humor, leaving me to stifle my laughter. "See you at English class." He gave Zach a wave.
"Okay, see you tomorrow." After Zach's final words, I heard him walk back to his house, along with a door opening and closing in the process.
Stepping back from the window, dad pulled the window down, closing it up. He grabbed the curtains, closing is gently instead of doing it harshly like he did before.
"You better get to bed, missy," he stated, mixed with a strict and humored voice.
I rolled my eyes with amusement. "Sure thing," I answered. My eyes then turned serious. "Did Slappy stop his sniffling?" I asked, sitting down on my bed.
"Yes, I talked to him." He rubbed his temples. "He's refuses to apologize to Hazel like always. Adding to that, he believes that our relationship won't be fixed for what I did to him back in Chicago and months ago," Dad put in.
"I can't believe he cries," I remarked, referring to what I witness at the abandoned amusement park. "I always thought evil things, like Slappy, never had emotions other than being cruel," I mentioned.
Dad nodded. "Strange, yes. But that doesn't mean he can't have other feelings. Now when I think about what had happened about the monster invasions that happened here and from Chicago, I bet he was doing that to get my attention. That and he probably had a temper tantrum," he theorized. "I'll ask him that tomorrow," he decided, before gazing at me. "What?" he added in a questioning tone.
"You believe that he was having a temper tantrum that young children will get?" I frowned, showing that I didn't agree about his terms.
"Hey." He raised his hands as if to defend himself and his words. "It might not be that, okay? Like I said, I'll ask him about that tomorrow. I'll also made sure that whenever Hazel gets to go home, he'll apologize to her. It won't be easy, but he has to do it. I told him that since his allies turned against him and hurt him, it's what he did to her. To my surprise, he kinda agrees and said he'll think about apologizing to her, not keeping any promises whatsoever."
The only response I can give him is a simple nod. "I guess I can go with that." Laying down on my bed, I pulled the covers on top of me. "However, that doesn't mean I can trust that demon," I pointed.
"I know..." Dad began to walk away before stopping at the doorway. "Goodnight, Hannah," he smiled.
"Goodnight," I returned with a soft grin. He was about to leave when I spoke up. "Dad? Do you think that Slappy will change?"
He looked down at the floor, figuring out how to respond to my question. "I'm not sure..." was all he can answer with. "It's best for him to take his time. Evil things like him don't reform overnight," he explained. "Now we better get to bed, or else we'll look like zombies and ghouls," he advised in a joking manner.
"Haha, very funny," I chuckled with such small humor before giving him a serious look. "Please don't say zombies and ghouls," I requested afterwards. "I rather not think about that monster invasion."
"Sure, sure. Goodnight." With a final goodnight wave to me, he walked out of my room, closing the door halfway. I didn't care, that's how I always leave my door when I go to bed.
Turning onto my side, I closed my eyes, hoping that Hazel will come home soon. For Slappy going to be reformed, that's something that I'm doubting. I don't believe he's going to change. I'll give him a second chance, but I'm in disbelief about him going to be...reformed.
Only time will tell.
Hazel
My eyes are cracked with no sleep. Yeah, you heard me correctly, I woke up again in the middle of the damn night. I don't know why I'm awake again. It's like my body refuses to fall asleep. It stopped raining, not being the reason why I can't go back to sleep.
I grabbed my pillow, putting it over my face, seeing if that'll help. The result I got is that I needed oxygen, bringing the pillow off my face, gasping for air. I went on my left side then to my right side. No help. I sat up, punching my pillow. That didn't work either.
Ugh! Again, I'm getting ticked off. Why do I keep waking up? Now I'm...I'm...I'm... I can't think of anything of how frazzled I am.
I should go see Dr. Snyder, tell him what's going on with my sleep deprivation. Wait, do doctors sleep in this place? Or do they go home?
Wanting to find out myself, I flung the covers off of me, getting out of bed, walking to the door. I was so tired that I forgot that it was closed, leaving me to bump into it. On the stitches, right on my frickin stitches.
I almost screamed when I did that, sucking in a breath with gritted teeth. I don't want to wake up Jackson again, even though it'll not be on purpose. I'm surprised that he knew about the monster mayhem that happened months ago. How did it even got on the news anyway? Are there cameras in Madison, Delaware? Like the ones you see on store buildings. No way it was on the news, a part of me disbelieved. But he wouldn't lie to me… right? I mean I never saw the monster mayhem on the news. Mainly because I don't watch a lot of television from reading all the time. The last time I watched TV is back when I was living with my awful god parents, being forced to watch that one Chucky movie from Travis, then getting me into trouble by throwing the remote at the TV screen, making a large crack to make it stop working, blaming it on me.
Grabbing the doorknob, I opened the door carefully, not making a sound, walking out of the room, my feet touching the cold floor due to no rug or carpet underneath me, heading down the hall to see if Dr. Snyder has a room of his own that he sleeps in.
It's pretty creepy to be honest with you. Like, I'm just walking down the halls, seeing shadows casting around me. I literally jumped when I thought I saw a spider, only to turn out that it was from a spider plant hanging on the wall that I never noticed. Looks healthy, too. Bet the people who work here took care of the plant since plants are people; needing food and water to survive, or else it was gonna die.
Even though the storm had stopped, outside is really windy. By the time I got to the area where the patients hang out and mingle, a tree branch tapped on the window, like it was getting my attention. It did, almost causing me to yelp.
Yeah, I'm kinda like Champ; the cowardly one. Which is ridiculous because I read Goosebumps books ever since I was four before my biological parents died in thar car crash. To me it was strange. I was the one who came up with a plan during the monster invasion by that stupid dummy who created it, and I was the one who found out how to get out of the dungeon by just kicking a dirt wall, letting it fall and crumble, meaning that I'm more likely the smart in my friend group. Should I be proud? I don't know. I mean, how can you if you never smiled? Even the time where you almost had that feeling of...happiness.
As I was about to look for Dr. Snyder's bedroom unless he had one, I was suddenly pinned on the wall by someone. I was about to call for help when the person spoke first.
"Hazel, what are you doing up again?" I calmed down when it was only Jackson. "I heard footsteps. I thought some bad person got in this building," he explained, taking his hands off my shoulders. "I didn't know it was you." He swept his hand over his hair, looking a mess from sleeping.
"Sorry, I ended up waking up for no reason again," I answered, keeping my voice a whisper to avoid waking up any of the others. "You really scared me, too," I added. "I thought you were Trevor, knowing how much of a creep he is."
He let out a small chuckle. "Sorry," he returned meaningful. "I thought you were a robber or something. That's all. Where are you going anyway?" he questioned.
"I want to see Dr. Snyder, to tell him about my sleep problems," I told him. "I don't understand why I keep waking up."
"I'm wondering, too," Jackson nodded. "But he's asleep, so it's better to wait until tomorrow- Actually, today is tomorrow," he suddenly realized, smiling at that thought. "Come on, try going back to bed," he encouraged. "I'll tell Rosy that you couldn't sleep, and she'll let you sleep in."
Thinking about it, I gave him a nod, heading back to the room, listening to the wind whistle like a ghost, like it was telling me something in its own language.
I wish I was a ghost... that way I won't have these types of problems.
By the time we got to our room, I went back over to my bed, now really wanting to get some shut eye.
I'm going to be so damned tired when daylight comes, I bitterly thought, facing the wall, hugging the stuffed bear. And to start my combo, I had to add in as well.
"Try to sleep, Hazel," Jackson repeated as I heard his bed let out a groan. "People who have the same problem like you get a lot more snappy and aggressive when they never get enough sleep. Believe me, I have seen it before."
"I believe you..." I murmured with mixture of a mumbled voice. I wasn't sure he heard me or not. Doesn't really matter to me anyway. I knew he heard me, and doesn't have to show or say anything.
Taking the blanket, I pulled it over my head, leaving an opening so I can breathe and not suffocate, shutting my eyes, doing my best to wait for sleep to enter me.
I want to go home.
The morning sunshine shun through the window by the time daylight came. I took the covers off of me in a zombie like way from the lack of sleep, my eyelids feel heavy, making it difficult for me to open them.
More like sleepwalking, I got out of bed, look liking a drunk person that drank too much alcohol at a Bar last night, making my way to the window.
The sun wasn't at the top of the sky since it's early, probably seven a.m. in the morning, causing me to clenched my eyes tighter from the bright light that assaulted me. Man, I wish I never had this problem again. Lack of sleep is sure going to make me worse for my bipolar disorder.
Wanting to take my combo right away, I grabbed the bottle, only I was so tired that I can't focus on the directions that are written on the side of it.
"Hazel..."
"What?!" I snapped, my eyes now casting a glare until they adjusted to the person that I am now looking at, turning out it was only Rosy. "Oh," I realized my mistake, my eyes returning back to their tired state, my lack of sleep coming back to me. "Sorry... I thought you were..." I flipped my hand in an exhausting manner. "...someone else," I finished apologizing.
"That's okay," she forgave. "Jackson told me that you didn't get any sleep last night. More likely that you kept waking up."
"For no reason," I added grumpily. "I'm going to..." I showed her my combo. "...take this."
Right before I opened it, she took it out of my hand. "Go back to bed," Rosy suggested. "You can see Dr. Snyder when you feel more awake and more alert. You can tell him about last night and he'll give you something to help you sleep tonight," she smiled. "We don't want you to run into walls or anything or anybody." For some reason, she released a short laugh that sounded very nice. It made me want to laugh, too. But I was too tired, too depressed, not in the mood for laughing. I don't remember the last time I laughed...
Stumbling over my own feet, I managed to reach my bed. I didn't bother to pull up the covers since I'm laying on top of them. I was so exhausted that I went to sleep in a snap, hearing Rosy pad out the room, closing the door behind her. Good, that way it's quiet. I prefer quiet when I go take a nap and when I go to bed. Possibly the storm kept me up, or maybe it was just me.
I heard the door open again, assuming it was only Rosy getting something, not opening my eyes from the heavyweight. I don't want to lack any more sleep than I already had.
SLASH!
Cold water jolted me awake, causing me to scream, rolling off the bed right onto my back. I sputtered and spit, getting my wet hair out of my mouth. My dripping hair also blocked my view despite that it only stops at my shoulders like I previously mentioned.
Wiping the hair out of my eyes, I saw Trevor glowering at me with a bucket in his hands, turned upside down. I opened my mouth to protest when he yelled at me.
"I wanted you to know that I am still mad for getting me in trouble!" he fumed angrily. "It's all your fault!"
"My fault!?" I questioned loudly and angrily as well. "How is it my fault that you got in trouble? You got what you deserved, Trevor. You were too close to touching my personal area, almost broke my arm, screamed into my ear, and punched Jackson, ending up giving him a nosebleed," I listed. I picked myself off the floor. "And thanks to you, my bed is wet, along with my hair, and you disturbed my sleep because I didn't sleep well last night." I felt the drops of water roll down my back and on my shoulders. "Now if you'll get out of the room, I want to go back to sleep," I requested, my exhausted state. "Before I start yelling," I finished.
"I am so scared of you," he ignored, waving his hands in fake dramatic. "You know, cold water perks up a person."
"Oh, really?" I replied with sarcasm. "Well, guess what?" I grabbed one of my Goosebumps books. "Get out... or I'll throw this book at ya," I warned, getting ready to do it. I knew I shouldn't throw any of my books, but this dude is starting to get on my nerves.
Trevor crossed his arms over his chest. "A book? You're going to throw a book at me? Girl, it's a paperback book. Like look." He went over and picked up one of the books. "The book covers are made of thin cardboard, and-" He stopped talking, his eyes going wide. "No way, are these...are these..." I saw his excitement grew, surprising me. "Are these...Goosebumps books?" he manage to push out.
I set the book back down. "Yeah... You know about these books?"
"Do I!" His expression didn't change. "I used to read these books all the time when I was a young lad. Man, those were the days. But when I got older, my parents told me I shouldn't be reading these books anymore." He shrugged his shoulders. "I may have an ego problem, but I think another reason why I'm here is because my parents believe that these are kiddie books, and they think I won't 'act like my age'." He made quotes with for the last words with his fingers.
I was confused, arching a brow. "Hold on, hold on," I quickly interfered, raising a hand in front of him. "You're parents also sent you here because they believe you won't act your own age, and they told you that you can't read Goosebumps books anymore?"
"That's how they always are," he nodded. "They made me get rid of my books, saying I should read something that is 'for my age'," he quoted again. "That I should read a book series titled Harry Potter. Yuck." He stuck out his tongue. "I read one, didn't like it, refusing to read anymore of those type of books. I'm more of a... horror reader."
"Uh huh." For some reason, I didn't believe that he read these types of books. "Since you read these books, what was the eighth book in the original Goosebumps series?" I quizzed him.
Trevor flipped his hand with a light scoff. "That's too easy. It's The Girl Who Cried Monster," he answered in a satisfying way. "Heh. That title reminds of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. There are a lot of references in a lot of these Goosebumps books."
"References?" I had to question. "What do you mean these books have references?"
His eyes widen. "You didn't realize there are references in these cool books?!" he proclaimed loudly. "I can't believe you didn't even noticed them," he grinned with a surprised look on his face.
I, however, did not have the same look that he has. "Is that a bad thing?" I said. "Should I feel guilty for not noticing any of them?" I looked down at the floor with my eyes, leaning against the dresser. He let out a chuckle, having me lift my eyes straight at him. "What?" I questioned a bit irritated. "Why are you laughing at me? I don't like to be laughed at."
He stopped chuckling. "I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing because I'm just shocked that you never knew you didn't there were references in these spooky books," he explained the best as he could.
"Oh..." I kinda understood with a simple nod. "You should...ask your parents to get your favorite books back; Goosebumps books," I suggested, flicking my hair off my stitches.
He only shook his head, replying back to what I told him. "No, I can't. They'll just say 'Trevor, those books range up to seven to twelve year old's; reading level is at grade four'," he stated and mimicked his parents words. "When I'm done being here, I'm gonna call my aunt and uncle to ask if I can stay with them until I'm ready to go live on my own." He set the book down and picked up another one. "Stay Out Of The Basement." After he read the book title, his grin grew wider. "Is it okay for me to borrow this book?" he asked, looking at the summary that is on the back of the book. "I promise I'll give it back before you leave."
Although he asked, I took the book away from him, his face filled with surprise when it got snatched out of his hand. "Sorry," I answered, not wanting him to get mad at me. "I'm real sorry. But...I just can't. You touched me the wrong way, you hurt me, you yelled at me, and punched Jackson. I don't know you, at all," I said, placing the book back with the others. "I don't trust you borrowing one of my books..." I looked away from him, avoiding his stare. "...I don't want you to wreck them." I turned away from him, facing Jackson's bed. "Now please excuse me when I go back to bed." Although I'm soaked, I don't think Jackson would care when he sees me sleeping on his bed. Besides, Rosy will just dry off our sheets for us.
I waited for him to say something to me. Something cruel and nasty. Instead, all I heard was footsteps leaving the room and muttering. I don't know what he's muttering about, but I'm hoping he's not thinking about hurting me, or worse, take my books.
Going over to Jackson's bed, my tiredness came back. I got under the covers, getting his mattress all wet from all the cold water that got dumped on me.
At least none of the water landed on my books, or else I'll be really upset and angry.
With sleep coming back, I decided to rest some more, or in this case, a lot more. But when I wanted to read a book, I got up from the bed to pick one. I'll just read two or three chapters of... Before I can finish my thought, I noticed something was missing.
One of my books. One of my Goosebumps books is missing.
I couldn't help but to let out a scream.